Apparatus for lighting miners&#39; safety-lamps.



J. G. BOWIE & J. H. PHELPS. I APPARATUS FUR LIGHTING MINERS SAFETY LAMPS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1908.

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| THE NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, nnc.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

J. G. BOWIE & J.- H. PHELPS. APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING MINERS SAFETY LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 11, 1908.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

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J. G. BOWIE & J. H. PHELPS.

APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING MINBRS SAFETY LAMPS. APPLIGATION FILED JULY 11, 1908.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

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JOHN CUNNINGHAM BOWIE, OF CARDIFF, ENGLAND, AND JOHN HEN YOKOHAMA, JAPAN.

APPARATUS FOR LIGHTING MINERS SAFETY-LAMPS.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, JoHN CUNNINGHAM BowIE, gentleman, residing at 179 Newport Road, Cardiff, South Vales, England, and JOHN HENRY PHELPS, electrical engineer, residing at Yokohama, Japan, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Lighting Miners Safety- Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention consists of certain improvements in or relating to safety electric apparatus or means for lighting miners safety lamps which are adapted to be lighted by electricity such apparatus or means being of the type described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 908,386, dated December 29, 1908, in which an electric generator and transformer are contained in a case and are connected to two terminals outside the case on to which the terminals of the miners safety lamp are adapted to fit, the said terminals and safety lamp being entirely inclosed in an air tight receptacle which is provided with a lid.

The objects of the present invention are to provide additional precautions which tend :(l) To prevent electric sparks emanating from the apparatus itself into the external atmosphere. (2) To prevent all possibility of external sparking even when a defective lamp is being lighted. (3) To lock or hold the electric generating means so that the same is absolutely prevented from generating electricity so long as the lid of the said receptacle is open or not securely closed. (4) To provide means for adjusting said looking or holding means so that the generator is only released-and only thereupon becomes capable of generating electricitywhen the said lid is tightly closed down and firmly secured. (5) To prevent the apparatus being tampered with while in the mine.

Vith these objects in view this invention consists more particularly in the following improvements in the said type of apparatus: (1) An improved arrangement of lid and means for holding the lid in its closed position over the receptacle for holding the lamp to be lighted. (2) An improved connection between the lid and the dynamo or magneto machine. An improved means of adjusting the said connection between the lid Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 11, 1908.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910. Serial No. 443,136.

and the dynamo or magneto machine. (4) A covering for the said connection between the lid and the dynamo and magneto machine. (5) Improved means for preventing the operation of the dynamo or magneto machine not only unless and until the lid is closed but also unless and until the separate means for securing the lid in a tightly closed state have been firmly secured; the lid being separately hinged to the receptacle and entirely separate from said lid locking means although controlled and secured thereby in the closed position.

In carrying out this invention we provide a lid hinged to the top of the receptacle which is attached to the case containing the dynamo, etc., and a lid locking arm separate from but adapted to fit over the said lid in order to keep it in its closed position the said lid locking arm being hinged or pivoted at one end to a rod (hereinafter called the connecting rod) which passes into the case and makes the connection between the said arm (which looks the lid) and the means of driving the dynamo, said lid locking arm having means at the other end to hold same presseddown on to the lid in order to firmly close the same and maintain it in its tightly closed position. In the said connecting rod we provide means for adjusting the same, such means consist-ing for instance of a turnbuckle and the said connecting rod is in closed or contained in a case or covering which will prevent the adjustment of the said rod being tampered with by any unauthorized person. The lower end of the said connecting rod, that is, the end remote from the lid of the receptacle passes between the two arms of a forked lever, and beyond said lever the connecting rod is provided with a nut or the like. The said forked lever is connected e. g. by means of an axis to a pawl or lever which engages suitable teeth or stops in or on one of the wheels or other means for driving the dynamo so that the said means are normally held by the said pawl or lever, a spring or any other suitable or similar device being used to hold the said pawl or lever in contact with one of the said teeth or stops.

In the figures of the accompanying drawings there is shown one method of carrying this invention into practice that is to say a. machine which includes the improvements according to our present invention.

RY PHELPS, or

Figure 1 shows an external side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 a sectional elevation seen from the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a plan view seen from above. Fig. t shows a horizontal section.

Referring now to these figures in greater detail wherein the same letters indicate the same parts throughout; A is a case which contains a dynamo or other suitable electric machine, an induction coil or transformer, an interrupter and gear wheels adapted to drive the dynamo by means of the handle H external to the said case.

B is a receptacle standing on the case A and covered by a lid 0 loosely hinged at C (see Fig. 2) to the said receptacle B. The arrangement of these parts and of the electrio terminals (not shown) may be identical with that shown in our aforesaid prior patent No. 908,386, dated December 29, 1908. Over the lid G the lid locking arm Gr is adapted to lie, the said arm being pivoted at X to the connecting rod J and having at its other end a forked portion D (see Fig. 3) which is adapted to receive a bolt F pivoted to the receptacle B at F on which bolt F the nut E is adapted to be screwed, thus holding the lid G firmly in position.

The connecting rod J is contained in a casing K and has at some point in its length a turnbuckle L'to adjust the length thereof while the spring Y (located on the rod J between the turnbuckle L and the fixed bracket or stop B normally tends to hold the locking arm G in an open position. The connecting rod J passes into the case A and between the arms of the forked lever M, a nut or the like on the rod J engaging against the said lever M and moving it when the rod J is moved in an upward direction. The lever M is attached to the axis I and attached to the same axis is a lever P so shaped and positioned as to be adapted to engage and hold studs Q on the wheel U which is one of the driving wheels T U and V by which the dynamo is driven when the handle H external to the case A is turned. N is another lever on the axis I attached to which is the spring 0 which normally holds the lever P in engagement with the stud as shown in Fi 2.

R is a ratchet wheel T and S a pawl so arranged as to prevent the wheel T from being driven in a reverse direction.

If desired we may provide a ridge or flange on the said lid to fit into a corresponding groove or to surround the outside of or otherwise make joint with said receptacle when said lid is closed down thereon; or We may otherwise make said lid to fit against said receptacle so that a joint is made and maintained in a gas-tight condition.

We may if desired provide a spring or other means on the inside of said lid (or receptacle) so that the lamp is pressed firmly against the electric terminals or contacts in said receptacle.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows :The miners safety lamp is placed in the receptacle B so that its terminals are in contact with the electric terminals in the said receptacle B such terminals being connected to the spark producing apparatus contained in the case A in any well-known method. The lid 0 is then closed down on to the receptacle B on to which it fits in an airtight manner and the locking arm G is then brought down upon the lid 0 and is firmly pressed down thereon by the screw E. hen the lid 0 is in position the lever P is raised through the medium of the rod J the lever M and the axis 1 so as to disengage the stud Q- and release the dynamo driving wheels T U and V which are then capable of being operated by means of the handle H. The turnbuckle L may be so adjusted that the driving wheels T U and V are only released when the lid C is firmly screwed down in position.

The generating apparatus will in practice usually be operated by hand; but if desired may be operated (when released) by any other suitable source of power.

By the use of this safety apparatus for lighting miners safety lamps in a mine thereby the necessity of having electric batteries in the mine (for such lighting purposes) is obviated.

In the drawings we have illustrated the application of an observation aperture or sight hole Z (to which we make no claim separately herein) in the lower part of the receptacle B said aperture or hole Z being covered and protected by a removable outer cap Z and also this aperture may if desired be provided with stout glass partitions or lens of wire gauze or otherwise protected as desired such opening or sight hole Z would be very serviceable when the terminals in the receptacle B are required to be tested or when using the apparatus in non-dangerous positions.

The terminals at the base of the receptacle B may be either fixed or adjustable or be spring terminals as may be desired.

WVhat we claim is 1. In apparatus, for lighting miners safety lamps by electricity, having a dynamo and a lamp-holding receptacle and a lid adapted to tightly close said receptacle; the combination of a lid locking arm separate from but adapted to hold the lid in a closed position on the lamp-inclosing receptacle, a connecting rod between said locking arm and the dynamo driving means, means for adjusting the length of said connecting rod, and means for looking or releasing the dynamo driving means said means comprising a pawl or lever adapted to engage with the dynamo driving means and a spring normally to maintain said locking parts in engagement, said pawl or lever being connected with the connecting rod and operated thereby, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In apparatus, for lighting miners safety lamps by electricity, having a dynamo, and a lamp-holding receptacle and a lid adapted to tightly close said receptacle; the c0mbination of a. lid locking arm separate from but adapted to hold the lid in a closed position on the lamp-inclosing receptacle, a connecting rod between said locking arm and the dynamo driving means, means carried in said connecting rod for adjusting the length thereof, and means for locking or releasing the dynamo driving means said means comprising a pawl or lever adapted to engage with the dynamo driving means and a spring normally to maintain said locking parts in engagement, said pawl 0r lever being connected with the connecting rod and operated thereby, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In witness whereof we hereunto set our hands in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN CUNNINGHAM BOWIE. JOHN HENRY PHELPS. Witnesses to the signature of John Cunningham Bowie:

SYDNEY JENKINS, LILLIE KENT. \Vitnesses to the signature of John Henry Phelps:

J. S. GRAHAM, WV. GRAHAM. 

